Dunne Reflects On Movements

With the January transfer window shutting last night, U's boss Joe Dunne has continued to mould his squad as he looks to lead his side clear of any danger at the bottom of League One.

The most notable move was of Anthony Wordsworth who heads up the A12 to join neighbours Ipswich Town, in an undisclosed deal believed to be somewhere in the region of £100-200,000.

As the deadline drew ever-closer, a number of others departed the Weston Homes Community Stadium by mutual consent, with Tom Aldred, Carl Pentney, Tom Bender, Ian Henderson and Michael Rose all cancelling their contracts to seek pastures new.

The move for Wordsworth has been on the cards for quite some time now, and Dunne admits that he feels it was the right time to move on.

He told BBC Essex: 'It's a good deal for everyone and the right time for him to take the next step.

'I think Anthony has a lot more to give and we haven't seen his best recently, so I wish him well and he has served the club well irrespective of what some may say.'

Woody has been absent for much of January anyway through a two-game suspension that he picked up in the 1-0 defeat to Doncaster, and Billy Clifford has since arrived on loan from Chelsea to fill the space vacated.

Despite netting thirteen times last season, the midfielder had been less influential this season and, although het took on the captain's armband upon Dunne's appointment, the Irishman doesn't ignore that his form had dipped.

'Possibly the speculation was playing on him,' he explained. 'His contract was expiring, he was dealing with the armband, a couple of suspensions and he never got into a flow.

'He had that flow with Craig Eastmond and would have liked to see him play with Billy Clifford, but I'm pleased for him to move up another level.'

Elsewhere, any inbound news was believed to be centred around the arrival of a young loanee that never quite transpired before the end of the deadline.

However, the loan window reopens for the U's next Friday and so there remains every chance that the move will simply have been delayed by a week.

'I've spoken about wanting to add one more young player to the squad and he would add to us,' Dunne admitted. 'I've spoken to the player and I've spoken to the club.

'But there is a player in that position who has done well recently, has lots of experience and knows the club well.'

His comments would point in the direction of the ever-reliable John White, who has found himself back in action in recent weeks and continues to be as dependable as ever.

Experience has been culled a little more elsewhere, though, with the departures of Ian Henderson and Michael Rose, both having their contracts cancelled late last night.

Earlier in the day, the U's boss conceded that there were discussions going on surrounding these departures, despite no offers from other clubs.

He said: 'We've had internal discussions and it's no secret that I've told some to go and find careers for themselves.

'We've tried to be fair, and I believe there are times players need to seek other opportunities.'